 The Spring Equinox
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The Vernal Equinox is the time when the Sun reaches the balancing point in its path through the zodiac. It marks the beginning of the new astrological year, as the Sun enters the first degree of Aries, the Ram. It happens on the night of March 21. This major calendrical event is the focus of religious and social festivities in all cultures, not just the Christian celebration of Easter. The death of the old year and the rebirth of the new has been celebrated since time immemorial, on or around the spring equinox, which is why the death and resurrection of Jesus is celebrated at this time. The word equinox means "equal night": the duration of the day being equal to that of the night, an event which occurs but twice a year, the one marking the astrological beginning of spring and the other the ending of summer. The Autumn, or Fall Equinox marks the harvest celebrations in September, as outlined later in this article.
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Astrologically, the March Equinox marks the entry of the Sun into the Cardinal, Fire Sign of Aries, the Ram. Aries is traditionally ruled by Mars, so the ancient Roman festivals of the equinox centered around Mars (hence the name of the month "March"). The Lupercalia was a fertility festival at this time, said by Cicero to be so ancient as to have been instituted before civilisation and law existed. The name Easter derives from the ancient fertility festival of the goddess Eostre, the teutonic goddess of spring. All cultures have spring festivals of this type.
The Autumnal Equinox-
The Autumn, or Fall Equinox is the time when the Sun reaches the opposite balancing point in its path through the zodiac. It is the time of ripening and harvest, marked astrologically as the Sun enters the first degree of Libra, the Scales, on the eve of September 23. Saturn, the "grim reaper", is exalted in Libra. The word equinox means "equal night": the duration of the day being equal to that of the night, an event which occurs but twice a year, the one marking the astrological beginning of spring and the other the ending of summer.
Astrologically, the September Equinox marks the entry of the Sun into the Cardinal, Air Sign of Libra, the Scales. Libra is traditionally ruled by Venus, but is also the sign of the exaltation of Saturn, the "grim reaper". Ancient agricultural societies celebrated the harvest with festivals of one kind or another, usually marking them with sacrifices to ward off the evil spirits and spirits of the dying year. The burning of the Corn Dolly is associated with the death of the corn god, and the crossing of the the border between long days of light and long nights of darkness.
- NOTE: in southern latitudes, of course, the equinoxes are reversed, so that the spring character of Easter in the Northern Hemisphere becomes an autumn celebration in Australia, South Africa, South America, New Zealand and other places south of the equator. This presents something of a problem for Christianity and for Astrology, or any other seasonal philosophy with claims to universality, which we address in a forthcoming article.
The Solstices mark the other Cardinal Points. Click here to read more on The Solstices
Click here to view a Table of Equinoxes and Solstices |
